Shirley Temple: Her Life and Career in Pictures

Shirley Temple, the dimpled, curly-haired child star, has died aged 85. She was America's top box-office draw from 1935 to 1938.

In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked her at number 18 of the top 50 screen legends.

She retired from films at 21. She raised a family and later became active in politics and held several diplomatic posts in Republican administrations, including ambassador to Czechoslovakia during the historic collapse of communism in 1989.

In this gallery, IBTimesUK looks back at her life and career.

Shirley Temple, circa 1934GettyGettyShirley Temple is seen in her role as "Little Miss Marker" in this 1933 photographAPBill Robinson as the butler is caught in the act of teaching Shirley Temple his world famous stair dance in a scene from "The Little Colonel," 1935APShirley Temple celebrates the arrival of 1937GettyA portrait of the child star, circa 1937GettyFormer child star Shirley Temple reads some of her fan mail, circa 1944GettyShirley Temple poses in her wedding gown prior to wedding with Sgt John G Agar on September 19, 1945 in HollywoodAPShirley Temple and John Agar pose with their three-month-old baby daughter, Linda Susan, in 1948geShirley Temple signs a property settlement in court as she divorces John Agar on December 5, 1949APDecember 1950: Shirley Temple and her new husband Charles Black hold hands as they permit photos to be taken for the first time since their marriage. She also announced that she was retiring from filmsAP15 March 1965: Shirley Temple shakes hands with a policeman upon leaving the Berkeley Hotel in LondonGettyOctober 1967: Mrs Shirley Temple Black, on the campaign trail for the US Senate, talks to locals in San Mateo, CaliforniaAP13 September 1968: Shirley Temple speaks in front of a poster of Richard Nixon at a Republican Party election press conference at the Cafe Royal in LondonGetty24 September 1975: Shirley Temple Black addresses a gathering at the Fetu Festibval at Cape Coast, GhanaAP22 January 1977: Iranian Ambassador Ardeshir Zahedi visits President Jimmy Carter and first lady Rosalynn Carter at the White House as Shirley Temple Black, the chief of protocol, watchesAP6 December 1988: Kennedy Centre honourees sit in the White House East Room: Bill Cosby, Fred Ebb, John Kander, Willie Nelson, Andre Previn and Shirley Temple BlackReuters29 January 2006: Shirley Temple Black accepts the Life Achievement Award during the 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild AwardsGetty